No decision taken on waiving loans of Mundakkai, Chooralmala victims; Centre seeks three more weeks’ time

KALPETTA: The central government has so far not taken a decision in waiving the loans of the victims of the Mundakkai and Chooralmala disasters. The Centre has sought three more weeks’ time. There is confusion on which ministry should take a decision in the matter and so demanded to grant three more weeks’ time. The court also reminded that Kerala Bank had waived off the loans of the victims of the disaster. The matter will come for consideration of the court again after three weeks. The Prime Minister had announced financial assistance to the states of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, which were damaged in the rains. However, no assistance has been announced even after a year since the Chooralmala landslide. On July 30 last year, a landslide erupted from Vellarimala, completely wiping out three wards of the Meppadi gram panchayat. 298 human lives were lost in a single night. Many lost everything they had earned in a lifetime.